Newsletter – December 2016

We are thrilled to share some great news – St. David’s Foundation announced yesterday two very generous grants to Integral Care. The first is a capital award of $1,562,000 to support construction of the clinic at Housing First Oak Springs. The clinic will provide essential mental health, substance use disorder, and primary care services and will have the capacity to serve 1000 clients. The second grant is an award of $355,000 for the expansion of our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program.

Thank you to St. David’s Foundation for their continued support of us and so many partners across Central Texas working to help everyone in our community achieve their full potential.

Partnerships in Action

Before getting connected to Integral Care, Jason and Angie were living in the woods, trying to cope as best as they could. They knew their situation had to change when they found out Angie was pregnant.

With help from the Salvation Army, they were able to secure temporary housing for Angie when their son, Rider, was born. Unfortunately, men were not allowed to stay at the shelter for women and children yet Jason managed to visit every day. Their newfound stability came to an end when Jason was hit by a car and sent to the hospital with a fractured leg. The accident took a toll on the new parents’ mental health and made their symptoms worse.

It was during this time of crisis that Integral Care and other community partners stepped in to help. We all worked together to find housing and provide the necessary support to take care of the entire family. Members of the University Avenue Church of Christ donated furniture, appliances and other household items to make their transition into housing more comfortable. They were able to move in to their new place just in time to celebrate their first Thanksgiving together as a family.

We are proud to live in a community that recognizes the importance of finding housing options that keep families together. Jason, Angie and Rider are just one of the hundreds of homeless families living in our city. We hope their story inspires you to become a part of the solution to end homelessness in Austin.

In the News

Successful Housing First initiatives are spreading across the country. See how the city of Boise responded to the issue of homelessness in their community.

Rathgeber Challenge Event

Join us for the Housing First Rathgeber Challenge Event. Innovative housing strategies are changing how our community addresses housing and mental illness. Join us to learn how you can make a difference and support Housing First Oak Springs. Like a storm that knocks a house from its foundation, a mental health crisis can devastate a life. But there is hope. A life, like a house, can be rebuilt with the right care, tools and caring community.

Wednesday February 22, 2017

8:00 to 9:30 AM

St. David’s Episcopal Church, Sumners Hall

301 E 8th St Austin, TX 78701

From all of us at Integral Care, we wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Ellen Richards

Chief Strategy Officer

Austin Travis County Integral Care

Housing First Oak Springs is a project of Austin Travis County Integral Care